Verhulst Frank C
Erasmus MC-Sophia Kinderziekenhuis, afd. Kinder- en Jeugdpsychiatrie, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2010;154:A1748.
In the Netherlands, a rising number of children are being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. It is unlikely that this rise is due to an increase in the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder. There is no indication that the current level of behavioural and emotional problems of children in the Netherlands is higher than 20 years ago. Moreover, the level of behavioural and emotional problems of children in the Netherlands is comparable to that of children elsewhere. This rise might, however, be explained by a lack of reliability in making this diagnosis. Autism spectrum disorders should not be regarded as a disease entity that is either present or absent but as a mix of the behavioural and cognitive characteristics of a child. This change in the concept of diagnosing autism spectrum disorders may enhance diagnostic comparability and result in the needs of children and their parents being better supported.
在荷兰，被诊断患有自闭症谱系障碍的儿童数量正在上升。这种上升不太可能是由于自闭症谱系障碍患病率的增加。没有迹象表明荷兰儿童目前的行为和情绪问题水平高于20年前。此外，荷兰儿童的行为和情绪问题水平与其他地方的儿童相当。然而，这种上升可能是由于诊断的可靠性不足所致。自闭症谱系障碍不应被视为一种要么存在要么不存在的疾病实体，而应被视为儿童行为和认知特征的混合体。自闭症谱系障碍诊断概念的这种变化可能会提高诊断的可比性，并更好地满足儿童及其父母的需求。
